Research Update
was fairly small. The average
pain score decreased by only
13 percent–from an average
of 6.9 before treatment to 6.0
after treatment. Pain severity
was also measured by having
people draw on a grid where
their pain occurred (Figure 1).
The number of boxes that were
shaded decreased more than
the pain score–by 31 percent.
This showed that, even though
the pain severity was not substantially reduced, people did
experience a sizable reduction
in how much of their body was
affected by pain. When you
have widespread pain, this can
be very important.
I
mprovements were also
measured by changes in
function. FIQ scores improved
by 20 percent. This may not
sound like much, but some of
the other function measures
showed marked improvements:
• The average distance people
were able to walk each day in
a walking program increased
over three times as long.
• The number of times patients were able to complete a circuit of arm exercises more than doubled.
• Improvements in the ability to perform common
daily activities (like sitting,
standing, lifting, carrying,
doing housework, and going
shopping) increased.
• Sleeping also improved.
P
hysical therapists also measured how well people were
moving by measuring range
of motion in the lower back and
neck. There was no improvement
in range of motion of the lower
back. Neck range of motion, however, was much improved.
24 Fibromyalgia & Chronic Pain
Life
Part of the reason low back motion did not improve was because people already had fairly good back motion when they started treatment.
Neck motion was more restricted before treatment. If the therapists
had only measured motion in the low back, they might have concluded
that treatment didn’t improve people’s ability to move more freely.
T
he results of this study have been published in the journal
Musculoskeletal Care. This study shows that measuring the
severity of fibromyalgia and whether treatment is helpful
or not needs more than just a pain or FIQ score. Those numbers
tell a part of the story, but only a part. Early in treatment, like
our patients, you may have only a modest dip in your pain score,
but you might be functioning much better. People with fibromyalgia often find that function improves before pain. If you rely on the pain
score to show that treatment is helpful, you might abandon a treatment
that would have eventually resulted in both reduced disability and pain.
Using the pain drawing in the Figure and a range of factors shown in the
Box to periodically measure your pain and pain impact can help you determine if your fibromyalgia treatment is on the right track.
MEASURING YOUR FIBROMYALGIA
What activities are currently limited by your fibromyalgia? Circle your
LEVEL OF DIFFICULTY:
MILD — MODERATE — EXTREME
carrying
MILD — MODERATE — EXTREME
lifting
MILD — MODERATE — EXTREME
sitting
MILD — MODERATE — EXTREME
standing
MILD — MODERATE — EXTREME
doing light household chores,
like dusting, ironing, washing
dishes
MILD — MODERATE — EXTREME
doing heavy household chores,
like making beds, vacuuming,
scrubbing floors, washing win
dows, moving furniture
MILD — MODERATE — EXTREME
yardwork
MILD — MODERATE — EXTREME
doing leisure activities/hobbies
MILD — MODERATE — EXTREME
doing leisure activities/hobbies
MILD — MODERATE — EXTREME
working
• How many hours do you usually sleep at night?
• How restful is your sleep from zero for not at all to 10 for very restful?
• How long can you walk in typical day (either minutes or distance)?
• How much exercise can you do in a typical day (either time or repetitions)?
Winter 2014